The Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau (LBCVB) is asking the community a simple question: What excites you about Long Beach? With those thoughts in mind, the LBCVB is launching its first-ever digital video contest to allow visitors and locals alike to creatively show the world why our “Beach with Benefits” is so great.
Contestants have from now until January 31, 2015 to submit their 15 to 180 second video, showcasing some of their favorite Long Beach locations, to the “What Excites You About Long Beach” video contest. Six winning filmmakers will take home Beach with Benefits prizes, including a $1,000 grand prize, based on content and originality.
To kick off the campaign, the LBCVB partnered with Andrew Smith, formerly the “Chief Funster” for New South Wales, Australia. Andrew was one of over 330,000 applicants from 196 countries who applied to win the right to experience 802,000 “moments of fun,” creating a unique moment for every square kilometer of NSW.
“I was impressed with Smith’s style, so I asked him if he would consider making a Long Beach video that would show off our city’s unique style and environment,” said President & CEO of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Steve Goodling in a press statement. “We quickly put together a proposal for Smith and his wife Rachel to visit restaurants and local attractions like the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, and the renovated Long Beach Airport.”
Smith agreed to the task and made the video in two days with the help of his wife, Rachel. The dynamic duo was able to capture an exciting, comical and dynamic snapshot of everything Long Beach has to offer, from touring the Queen Mary and visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific, to sipping a cup of Heartbreak Coffee and sampling a few of Beachwood Brewery and Barbecue’s finest craft brews.
“Long Beach is a place that is completely understated,” said Smith in an earlier statement. “Though it’s not as large or crazy as L.A., Long Beach caters to your mood, whatever it may be. I was stoked to film the city in a raw and simple manner.” While Smith’s video is a wonderfully entertaining view of Long Beach from a well-informed tourist’s perspective, we can’t wait to see what a local can do with their filmmaking skills.
The resulting video is the official starting point for the “What Excites You About Long Beach” contest and serves as an example for aspiring filmmakers to use when formulating ideas for their own submissions. Throughout December and January, the LBCVB will be holding free meet-ups at various locations throughout Long Beach, giving locals and visitors a chance to experience a guided tour of the Beach with Benefits. Venues and dates will be announced through CVB social media feeds throught the coming weeks.
The video and contest rules can be found here. Follow the LBCVB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube for updates regarding the competition.